Orrville threatens strike by March 16

Published: February 26, 2000 12:00 AM

Teachers intend to strike on Thursday, March 16, at 11 a.m. if significant progress isn't made toward a contract settlement before then, the Orrville Board of Education learned Friday night.

The Education Association of Orrville issued a notice of intent to strike to Orrville City Schools superintendent Jeff Patterson and the Board of Education's attorney Denny Whalen after the second negotiation session between the two sides.

Laurier Likens, EAO crisis communication team member, said progress in negotiations must be made or the teachers will strike.

The notice was issued by Richard Schneider on behalf of EAO's negotation team.

According to a press release by the EAO, the mediation session lasted three hours with federal mediator Jennifer Flesher in attendance on Friday.

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The board met and responded to a number of items with Whalen asking for more time to review the other issues in the proposal.

According to the Likens and EAO member Matt Plybon, the negotiation team felt no other option but to issue a strike notice after a "low" number of items were addressed.

"We are looking to bring closure to this 16-month ordeal," Likens said after the meeting.

"A strike is our last resort," Likens said. "We feel that we have done all we can to get a fair and equitable contract. The teachers stopped by the meeting place after school to show their support to the negotiation team. At this gathering, the negotiation team gave them the news about the strike date. The teachers were disappointed with the lack of progress with this mediation session."

In the upcoming days, EAO membership will meet with representatives to discuss what actions will be required to prepare for a strike.

The next mediation session will be March 2 at 1 p.m.

After entering factfinding portion of the process, the board rejected the factfinder's report on Jan. 18 and the membership of the EAO passed the report six days later.

The Orrville City School teachers have been working without a contract since June 1999.

Patterson could not be reached for comment at his home on Friday evening.